Gods and Mortals: Nine Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels

by C. Gockel, S.T. Bende, Christine Pope

Nine novels with modern humans facing off against heroes, Norse and Greek gods, djinn, and monsters of old … over one million words of divinely (and diabolically) inspired fantasy, adventure, and romance.

Join the freshest voices in urban fantasy and paranormal, New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors, on unique journeys to heaven, hell, and worlds beyond.

Get this heavenly collection of paranormal romance and urban fantasy ... before it’s too late!

About the Books:

Elsker by S.T. Bende
Kristia Tostenson just found out her new boyfriend is the Norse God of Winter, and an immortal assassin destined to die at Ragnarok. Her orderly life just got very messy.

Wolves: I Bring the Fire Part I - A Loki Series by C. Gockel
When Amy prays for help, Loki the Norse God of Mischief and Chaos isn't the savior she has in mind.

Chosen by Christine Pope
When a fatal fever nearly wipes out the entire world's population, the survivors of what became known as "the Dying" believe the worst is in the past. Little do they know....

Nolander by Becca Mills
A young woman from small-town Wisconsin discovers that monsters are real -- and that she might just be one herself.

Twin Souls by DelSheree Gladden
Uriah and Claire didn't believe in their tribal stories until Claire's poisoned and those myths spring to life to test their love and unravel destiny.

Blood Debt by Nancy Straight
A mythological romance: Camille is denied her father's identity until her mother's death. She discovers a family she never dreamed of and a world that should not exist.

The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard
Can the magical Tuatha de Danaan, the forgotten people of Ireland, help Allison restore her mother's sanity?

Relentless by Karen Lynch
Sara Grey lives a double life until a fateful encounter with a sadistic vampire and a fearless warrior exposes her powerful gifts and changes the course of her life forever.

Hidden Blade by Pippa DaCosta
The once-revered ancient Egyptian gods aren’t dead. They’re back. And soul eater Private Investigator, Ace Dante, is in their way.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology, Anthologies, Urban Fantasy, Amazon, Romance

1948 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2015

About the author

C. Gockel got her start writing fanfiction, and she is not ashamed! Much. She received emails, messages and reviews from her fans telling her she should 'do this professionally'. She didn't; because she is a coward and life as a digital designer, copywriter and coder is more dependable. But in the end, her husband's nagging wore her down: "You could be the next '50 Shades of Gray' and I could retire!" Unfortunately, the author isn't much for writing smut. She is sad about this; she'd love for her husband to be able to retire and just work for her so she could nag him.

At the moment, Ms. Gockel is working on the next installment of her Archangel Project series.

Ms. Gockel loves to hear from readers. She can be reached by email at: cgockel.publishing at gmail.com

Her Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/CGockelWrites

Reviews

[Nikki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read the Twin Souls by Delsheree Gladden from this set, but here is my review for Twin souls.
Great book!!Definitely not your standard love story, I have to admit I cried at the end!! Can't wait to read the next one!!

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting collection

This is a very varied collection, some of these books I've read like Hope(less) by Melissa Haag some of them I've never seen before but want to read like Elsker by S.T. Bende.
Collections like this have slowly lost their appeal for me since it's usually the same books by the same authors collected together under a different title and a different cover, they're generally first in series books which are free anyway and more often than not cliffhangers which work out expensive to continue and while yes, a lot of the books in this collection are cliffhangers or to be continued its nice to see different books and different authors and not all of them are first in series, not all of them are free and not all of them are cliffhangers so all in all not a bad collection and if nothing else it's brought books to my attention which I would otherwise have missed.

[Pippa DaCosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREE DOWNLOAD

Beyond The Veil is included in this as of October 1st, 2015.

[Abra · Rating 1 out of 5]

This collection consists of one complete story that wasn't very good, a teaser that practically ended mid-sentence, and twelve first books of a series. After I read the teaser, I started checking the last pages of the other novels and none appeared to be stand alone stories. Since this collection was free I have no complaint about being overcharged, but I am disappointed that virtually none of the novels stood on their own.

DNF

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

First books of series - some really good, some really bad. The better ones are from the "new adult" category. Nice to have all the free books gathered in one place to quickly go through and either enjoy or more on.

Good marketing technique. I ended up buying and reading to the end of the series a few of the stories "The Elsker Saga" and "Nolander: Emanations" and "Runes". I bought a couple of stories based on "Hope(less)"

Many are worth the trip.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elsker by S.T. Bende ****4 Stars
Kristia is a girl from a small town who studies abroad in England to have an adventure. She finds that adventure in Ull, who is a Norse god on vacation so to speak. They meet, fall in love and have to figure out how to be together while stopping the world from ending.

I Bring the Fire by C. Gockel ****4 Stars (Previously Read)
Loki is very jaded in this book but it backs up his attitude with cutaway stories from his past. Amy, is pretty sure everything that's happening is real even if it is insane...and despite her best efforts she feels for Loki and does want to help him.

Chosen by Christine Pope **2 Stars
This started of well, it was interesting and different...but then it slowed and it seemed like we didn't get any answers at all until the end and by then things became really rushed.

Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer ***3 Stars (Previously Read)
There were just a few times that things didn't flow so well, and I wanted a little bit more information about things which led me to give the 3 Stars. But I do look forward to continuing this series.

The Gatekeeper's Sons by Eva Pohler **2 Stars (Previously Read)
I think my issue is that I feel like 15 years old is still a child and so the fact that Hypnos and Thanotos were all about Therese just creeped me out.

Nolander by Becca Mills ***3 Stars
I'm a little torn on this one. I did enjoy it overall but I'm sure I don't understand everything that went on.

Twin Souls by DelSheree Gladden ***3 Stars (Previously Read)
There was nothing I particularly disliked about this book but I just didn't love it. The characters, story and writing were just ok.

Blood Debt by Nancy Straight **2 Stars (Previously Read)
I just didn't like Camille very much. I didn't think her attitude was consistent enough which made most of her choices and actions very annoying.

The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard ***3 Stars (Previously Read)
I feel like there was a lot of rushed information so it was a little hard to follow....like who is who and who hates who and so on.

Marked (Soul Guardians #1) by Kim Richardson *1 Star DNF
This was a pretty interesting idea but I just didn't think it was very good.

Relentless by Karen Lynch *****5 Stars
There were a few times that I felt the story didn't tie together perfectly and maybe there was a little too much going on but I loved it anyway.

Beyond the Veil by Pippa DaCosta **2 Stars
This was alright, I just couldn't get into it.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. I read the first story, Elsker, in May and promptly bought the other books in that series, setting Gods and Mortals aside. I resumed G&M after finishing the two other books and novella. I've left pretty detailed reviews on each of them at The Elkser Saga box set page.

2. I Bring The Fire: I enjoyed this story as Loki is the good guy in this one and Odin and Thor not so much. I am very tempted to follow up with the rest of the series but am trying to hold off until I finish G&M, as there may be others I like even more and my budget will only stretch so far.

3. Chosen: I really got caught up in this post-apocalyptic story and am questioning my resolve not to purchase the rest of the series until G&M is finished.

4. The Gatekeeper's Sons: Just started 6/6 so am not far enough into it to form an opinion. 6/8 - still not finished but have a couple of observations. This is a bit too teen angst for me, even though Therese does have good reason for feeling this way. Her discovery that Than is the god known as Death is interesting enough that I will finish this story. A couple of complaints - the horse named Dumbo is said to be a stallion. There is no way a stallion should be part of a trail ride string, nor should he be handed over to a fearful rider. Stallions are dangerous. He also should not be turned out with mares. Stupid.

I have a really hard time believing that Death also harvests animal souls. He is not described as being omnipresent since he is observed escorting dead individuals. He wouldn't be able to deal with the thousands (millions?) of people who die daily as described, much less include animals. How many are slaughtered daily for food or because they have run out of time at a shelter? My imagination can only be stretched so far.

6/10 - Having read more of the book there is an explanation of how Death can be in a multitude of places at once. Not sure if I buy it but at least the author tried to make it feasible. I enjoyed the rest of this book more than I thought I was going to. I wonder why the gods allowed Therese to keep the magical gifts they had bestowed on her since she failed the test to become a goddess. Wouldn't at least one of the gods have been able to erase her memory? It turns out there are five more books to this series, not to mention a prequel and spinoffs. Going to stick to my guns and not buy any until I've finished G&M.

One last observation - Therese is only 15 years old so far too immature and naive to be shackled down for eternity with a god she is infatuated with. I don't know why authors can't age these characters so as to make them a little more believable and their relationships not so dirty old man creepy.

5. Nolander: Emanations, Book One. This is more scifi to me than a fantasy. So far I haven't seen any gods appear, although there is another universe involved that at times overlaps Earth allowing alien beings access. I am just to the point where Beth is trying to figure out who is telling the truth since there appears to be two factions amongst the "good guys." 6/14 - Finished and found that I liked this more than anticipated. This story ends as a mystery in that Beth doesn't understand what her powers are. Graham and Justine's abilities also haven't been fully explored. Is Graham a good or bad guy? Many unresolved issues to make me want to read the next book in the series.

6. Twin Souls - Started 6/14. More teen angst. The author switches back and forth telling the story from Claire's perspective and then Uriah's, although it's not hard to differentiate. The summary before starting the actual novel lets you know that the Elders will not approve their request for permission to marry so that part of the plot is spoiled. They are 17 and 18 so, in my opinion, far too young to marry anyway. That's not the reason given, however, but this is where "Twin Souls" enters into the picture.
6/17- Finished and of course there is another book. I don't know that I am intrigued enough to want to read it. That said, and without knowing what the next book entails, it seems to me that this story could have been wrapped up in one volume.

7. Blood Debt - Started 6/18. Once again we have a character that does not know that she is different from the average human. I am where she is starting to learn this but hasn't been able to perform any special abilities. Kind of an interesting take on what centaurs "really" are, as the notion of half (wo)man/half horse has been disavowed. Haven't found out yet what they are supposed to be.

I am a little perturbed that her father's wife, took the initiative to contact Cami's grandmother. I think she knew that Cami's mother had run away from that family years before, changed her name and told Cami that her parents were dead. Shouldn't Gretchen have a clue that maybe the grandmother wasn't the kind of person to be told how to locate said grandchild? There is indication that the grandmother was aware of Cami and that there is also apparently a twin brother that Cami knows nothing about.

Ah yes, can't get away from forbidden love. Cami and her brand new bestie's fiancé are irresistibly drawn to each other. The bestie and fiancé don't love each other but are marrying to avoid an arranged marriage for Bianca. Bianca also is in love with a guy her mother doesn't approve of. Cami is prostrate with guilt but this has all the makings of happily ever for all concerned.

Cami's maternal grandmother makes almost any wicked witch seem angelic in comparison.

8. The Forgotten Ones - Started 6/20. The MC is 22. Yay! Of course she seems to have an immature crush on some guy she grew up with but at least she's 22 and maybe, just maybe, old enough to make responsible decisions about her future.

9. Marked - Back to a 16 year old female MC. The synopsis is remarkably similar to the old television show Dead Like Me. This story is the first that hasn't grabbed my interest and I'm almost to the point of skipping on to the next one. I will probably read on, however, because that's just the way I am.
Finished reading 6/25. The characters just didn't appeal enough to me to want to read further. I like some YA but not this. I know this is fantasy fiction but I just can't wrap my head around people becoming angels. Two different entities - one does not morph into the other. Also the archangels are described as being quite large but then at one point the author describes Gabriel's (I think) hands as being little. Doesn't work for me.

What's with the monkey and ape elevator operators, especially since they seem so reprehensible? Wouldn't it be a good job for the cherubs that are running around? The GAs need water to travel between earth and what is not called Heaven but seems to be what it is. So, they stick their heads in toilets and buckets of dirty water to transport. Is that really necessary? I can't remember what the author calls God but it isn't very respectful.

10. Relentless - Now this story I like even though it revolves around a 17 year old female. So far she hasn't succumbed to teen infatuation or angst. She has some rocking paranormal power and interacts with interesting supernatural beings. The vampires don't seem to have any redeeming qualities, which is a nice change after Twilight (which I never read but just base my opinion on hearsay)

Finished this book after waking in the middle of the night and it kept me awake until I finished. Is there some kind of formula that teenage girls must act like toddlers and refuse assistance from anyone, feeling that they can take care of all problems single-handedly? Sara isn't as bad as some but still endangers herself and others through her obstinate attitude. I will say, however, that she does finally realize the absurdness of this and resolves to change. Overall I would give this story 4.5 stars and will most likely purchase the sequel(s)

11. Beyond the Veil - Just read a few pages. The MC is half demon just like Sara in the previous story.
6/28 - Muse, AKA Charlie, seems to have a genuine dilemma about who is trustworthy. If her demon mentor wanted her dead, wouldn't he have killed her off a long time ago? I can sort of understand why other demons would want her dead just because she's a half-breed because there are humans who have this same stupid mentality against people who are different. Her hormones seem to be in overdrive, lusting over both Stephan and Akil. There is mention at the beginning of a human boyfriend but he hasn't appeared as yet. And what kind of creature is Nica? Who was Muse's mother? Inquiring minds want to know.
7/1 Finished! Overall I would give this compilation a 4.5 as I would like to pursue the majority of the stories. However, Jonathan Moeller released his newest Ridmark novel today so that will be the next book I read.

[Karie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gentle Reader Alert: I nearly gave up on this one. Way too heavy on the romance novel end of the spectrum and not enough of the interesting interactions between deity and mortals.

Elsker--read and reviewed. I like it. Fairly clean.
I Bring the Fire--already read, didn't finish.
Chosen--slow, way too adult, took forever to get to the reveal. Had higher hopes for this one because I'd read Dragon Rose. Yeah, I'll stick to her fairy tale retellings.
The Gatekeeper's Sons--the MC was too ditzy, gave up.
Nolanders--already read.
Twin Souls--(NOT the same as in the paranormal omnibus). Beginning was deadly dull, even though I really, really wanted to like it. The wise old guide was too unreliable. Killed the story.
Blood Debt--Interesting setup, too soap opera for me. I get tired of reading about the problems of rich people/rich paranormals.
The Forgotten Ones--tl;dr
Marked--too silly/cartoonish
Relentless--Already read and reviewed.
Beyond the Veil--Bleh. Been there, done that (Mercy Thompson).

[Angela Kalnins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gods and Mortals is a compilation of several different stories written by several different authors. Each book separately seems to be part of a whole other series. I didn't really realize that when I bought it.

I read Dead Radiance by T. G. Ayer. I really liked it. It was incredibly unique.

The main character, Bryn Halbrook discovers, not long after her father's death that she is the LITERAL re-incarnation of a Valkyrie. Her scientist father, after finding the remains of a real Valkyrie while on an archeological dig, uses those remains to clone Bryn. Not long afterward, Bryn is swept up into the world of gods and mythical creatures and is forced to go a mission to help save the life of the man she loves.

It was a great story and when I get the chance I hope to read the whole series.

As for the Gods and Mortals set as a whole, I hope to read each of the books left in the set.

So far, I'm very pleased with the purchase.

[Ash Kemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has several of my all time favorite series starters, including:
Elsker by ST Bende
Hopeless by Melissa Haag
Runes by Ednah Walters
Relentless by Karen Lynch

and so much more! Don't wait, it's free and easy to one click your way to the best paranormal ya box set available!

[Jon Enders · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a collection

Surprising, enjoyed every book. Couldn't put them down and had to buy the next, they are that good. Now looking for other stories by these authors.

[Gerald "Jerry" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good variety

Various authors and styles make up a great selection of stories that will keep you happily tuning pages one after another.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Gods and Mortal is a collection of ten fantasy stories in one convenient package. This box set of full-length novels contains the first instalment of ten different series- to give us a taste of each of the author’s work. Some of the authors are ones whose work I have read before, while others are completely new to me. So, this has been a great way to get a taste/feel of their storytelling.
The stories are all fantasies- running the gambit from romantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, and supernatural. They are all quite different from each other in premise and style, but combined they complement each other.
With Greek gods, Egyptian gods, Native American spirits, vampires, werewolves, elves, immortals, monsters, action, adventure, drama, danger, myths/legends, prophecy, assassins, chemistry, spice, forbidden romance/love, opposites attract, survival, politics, secrets, discovery, quests, warriors, agendas, struggles, sacrifice, and post-apocalyptic worlds- there is something here to suit every paranormal/fantasy lover.
(This is advertised as thirteen books, but my Kindle copy only had 10, with an eleventh having only the title page and Chapter 1 heading. I am not complaining, just giving you a heads-up that there are only 10 stories, not thirteen.)

The Box Set Contains:

ELSKER (THE ELSKER SAGA BOOK #1) By: S.T. Bende
‘Kristia Tostenson prefers Earl Grey to Grey Goose and book clubs to nightclubs. But when she transfers from her one-stoplight Oregon town to Cardiff University in Wales, she falls in love with Ull Myhr. Her new boyfriend isn’t exactly what she was expecting. His cashmere sweaters and old-world charm mask a warrior who's spent an eternity fighting for his very existence. Ull is an honest-to-goodness Norse god — an immortal assassin fated to die at Ragnarök, the battle destined to destroy Asgard and Earth. On top of being marked for death, Asgardian law prohibits Ull from tying his fate to a mortal. No matter what she feels for Ull, Kristia knows she's the one thing he can never have. With Ragnarök on the horizon and a lunatic haunting her dreams, Kristia has to find a way to convince Ull that breaking the rules is the only way to survive; that defying the order he's sworn to uphold is their only chance to be together. And when someone starts asking the wrong questions, Kristia realizes the crazy visions she's had all her life might be the key to saving their realms... even if they end up costing her life.’
~This was a great read. An engrossing adventure with the fate of the world at stake. I will definitely be continuing on with the series.
(4 Book Series)

SOUL MARKED (A Standalone Novel in the I Bring the Fire Universe) By: S.T. Bende
‘Magic is real, but Tara’s life isn’t a fairy tale. From humble beginnings, Tara’s managed to work her way into a great job researching Dark Energy, aka “magic,” in Chicago. She has a beautiful house she renovated with her own hands, and a loving extended family, but she hasn’t found her soulmate … Not that she believes in soulmates. Lionel is a Light Elf. Despite being of dubious heritage and being born a peasant, he’s risen in the ranks to serve the Elf Queen. Like all true elves, Lionel has a soulmark to identify his soulmate … He just hasn’t found her yet. When Lionel’s and Tara’s lives collide and Dark Elves strike, they’re forced to work together or perish. Friendship and more grows between them, but dangers loom … Tara is more important than she knows, and Lionel is more important than he wants to admit. Both of them have choices to make. Will Lionel choose a “perfect” love over Tara? How much is Tara willing to give up for a happily ever after? They might find that in an uncertain world, the love you struggle for is the only certain.’
~This is another intriguing read, one I have read before in previous box sets/anthologies- but enjoyed again, nonetheless.

Chosen (The Djinn Wars Series Book #1) By: Christine Pope
‘It became known as the Dying, and it soon wiped out almost every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth, leaving behind a pitiful remnant of the world's population. And for those left behind, the struggle has just begun....
Jessica Monroe is one of the few survivors of the Dying. As she struggles to make her way through the ruins of civilization to a place of safety, she finds herself guided by the gentle voice of an invisible being she thinks of as her guardian angel. When she discovers that he is no angel at all, she realizes the destruction of humanity was only the first step in an even larger plan.’
~This is another book that I have read previously, but have enjoyed again- anything Ms. Pope writes is bound to be an engaging read. I have already hunted down more of the series to read- looking forward to seeing where it all leads.
(14 Book Series)

NOLANDER (Emanations, Book #1) By: Becca Mills
‘Nice girls don't believe in monsters. They're wrong. Amateur photographer Beth Ryder is in trouble. She's taking pictures of things she can't see, things that aren't human. Beth has her own dreams, but people like her don't get to go free. She's seized by a dangerous organization dedicated to keeping Earth's shadow world—and its frightening inhabitants—a secret. Forced into otherworldly politics and uncertain whom to trust, Beth must come to terms with a radically altered future—one in which her own humanity seems to be slipping away. Nolander is the first novel in the fantasy series Emanations. The second novel, Solatium, and a short story, "Theriac," are also available.’
~ A great start to the series. Again, it’s another book that I have read previously, but it’s one I don’t mind reading again. It’s an intriguing story with quite an original premise. I look forward to continuing on with the rest of the books.
(3 Book Series)

TWIN SOULS (Twin Souls Saga Book#1) By: DelSheree Gladden
‘He avoids her because of the strange physical pain he feels when they touch. She avoids him because the way everyone seems to do what he says scares her. But when Claire needs to escape a bad situation Uriah is the first person she thinks of, and he is eager to rescue her. Faced with each other for the first time, both Uriah and Claire find it impossible to listen to their fears and stay away from one another. They soon find out, though, that there is more than they ever thought possible trying to keep them apart. Following tradition the pair approaches the Elders of their Tewa tribe to ask permission to marry. Everyone is shocked when the shaman refuses them, claiming they are not Twin Souls. Confused and angry Uriah refuses to listen, and promises them that he will never abandon Claire. When Claire is poisoned by her vindictive father his resolve is tested. Ancient Native American myths and legends spring into reality, doing everything they can to keep Uriah from saving Claire’s life, while beginning to reveal the truth behind the lies he has been told all his life.’
~Interesting combination of elements here. Whilst I did like the premise, I just didn’t connect with the characters the way I would have liked. I would read more of this author’s stories though, just to see what else they can do.
(3 Book Series)

BLOOD DEBT (Touched Series Book #1) By: Nancy Straight
‘Her whole life, it had just been the two of them. Before her mother’s last breath, she gave Camille the information she had craved her entire life: the identity of her father. Daring to contact him, Camille was welcomed by an entire family she never knew existed. But nothing comes without a price, as she discovers when her family claims a legendary heritage tracing back to a Centaur touched by Zeus. As she learns the secrets of her Centaur bloodline, she is drawn into a forbidden love with Drake. Her family acknowledges her life may be the blood debt required to pay for her mother’s transgressions. The same person who once held her mother captive, and forced her into decades of hiding, now controls Camille. Her only chance is to seek a piece of her mother’s past that will win her freedom and the life she desperately desires.’
~This story had me at Centaurs- another original premise and a great start to the series- which looks set to be engrossing. Looking forward to more.
(5 Book Series)

THE FORGOTTEN ONES (Danaan Trilogy Book #1) By: Laura Howard
‘Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember. What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his fairy tale about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.’
~This is an original premise with a multi-layered storyline. The characters were interesting and dynamic individuals. While I did enjoy the story, there were times where the story ‘felt’ like it got bogged down somewhat with info dumping and/or a little rambling. But I am still curious to see what the other books in the series have in store for us.
(3 Book Series)

MARKED (Soul Guardians Book #1) By: Kim Richardson
‘Sixteen-year-old Kara Nightingale is unpopular, awkward and positively ordinary—that is until one day she is struck by a bus and dies... Within moments her life changes from ordinary to extraordinary as she wakes up in a mysterious world with a new career—as a rookie for the Guardian Angel Legion. Kara is pulled into the supernatural where monkeys drive the elevators, oracles scurry above giant crystal balls and where demons feed on the souls of mortals. When an Elemental child is kidnapped, Kara is sent on a danger-filled quest and plunges into a situation more dangerous and deadly than anything she could ever imagine.’
~This story grabbed my attention right from the moment I read the blurb, and while I did like the book- I just felt like it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. But as this is the first book in a nine-book series, I am hoping that I will find my groove’ better with the following instalments.
(9 Book Series)

RELENTLESS (Relentless Series Book #1) By: Karen Lynch
‘Sara Grey’s world shattered ten years ago when her father was brutally murdered. Now at seventeen, she is still haunted by memories of that day and driven by the need to understand why it happened. She lives a life full of secrets and her family and friends have no idea of the supernatural world she is immersed in or of Sara’s own very powerful gift. In her quest for answers about her father’s death, Sara takes risks that expose her and her friends to danger and puts herself into the sights of a sadistic vampire. On the same fateful night she meets Nikolas, a warrior who turns Sara’s world upside down and is determined to protect her even if it’s the last thing she wants. Sara’s life starts to spin out of control as she is hunted by an obsessed vampire, learns that her friends have secrets of their own and reels from the truth about her own ancestry. Sara has always been fiercely independent but in order to survive now she must open herself to others, to reveal her deepest secrets. And she must learn to trust the one person capable of breaking down the walls around her.’
~This was one of my favourites of this collection and I was so happy to discover there are eight more books to explore.
(8 Book Series)

HIDDEN BLADE (Soul Eater Book #1) By: Pippa DaCosta
"They call me devil, liar, thief. In whispers, they call me Soul Eater. They’re right. I’m all those things—and more." Kicked out of the underworld and cursed to walk this earth for all eternity, Ace Dante finds solace in helping others avoid the wrath of the gods. But when warrior-bitch, Queen of Cats, and Ace's ex-wife, Bastet, hires him to stop whoever is slaughtering her blessed women, Ace is caught between two of the most powerful deities to have ever existed: Isis and Osiris. The once-revered gods aren’t dead. They’re back. And Ace is in their way. Welcome to a New York where the ancient gods roam.
~This author had me at Egyptian gods and vampires. Another original story, with more to look forward to.
(8 Book Series)

As you can see, there’s quite a lot to choose from. Read them all, or pick and choose… it’s up to you. But you can’t really beat 10 books for the price of one.
Happy Reading…

Thank you to all the contributing Authors!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (11/25/2019)! 🎁

[MeShell Shocked · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st i keep my reviews HONEST & SPOILER FREE, now with that being said OMG WOW, at 1st i felt part of this book was rushed, but that was my own greed wanting to know more of Eve & Boaz's adventures, but as i got farther into the story i got it. Somehow Rachel was able to capture my attention from GO. I work constantly & even now I have a 13 month old climbing all over me, yet i found myself reading instead of working, hiding in my bathroom late at night when i should have been sleeping knowing i needed to wake earlier.
I found myself falling for every twist & turn in this full length novel. I needed to know more of each character & was attempting to guess what was next to come & then questioned my sanity when i was so wrong. I am not 100% sure if you can get THE DEVILS FOOL on it's own, but I'm certain the full box set is AMAZING.
I will leave you with this, it ends on a HUGE CLIFFHANGER, and the 2nd book is called The Devils Angel & believe me when i say I CAN NOT WAIT TO RIP THROUGH THE PAGES AS FAST AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
FROM ME - this book is getting 5 MASSIVE PARANORMAL STARS,

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This box set is somewhere between a 4.6 and a 4.9 read. I kid you not. All the books in here is awesome and entertaining but quite a few were actually a 6 star read. I loved the consistent theme with various interpretations etc.

The authors should be very proud of this collection and dear reader, if you are reading this then you are probably a lover of the genre already. So trust me when I say you simply cannot go wrong with this set.

[Lady The Owls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grand stories

Each story brought it's own twist on good & evil. The awakening of each person in each story was fantastic in the telling. I found I have so many stories I now have to finish to the end.

[Alexander Smithson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though there were two stories that I didn't care for that much the other twelve were really goodand threeof those twelve were amazing. I plan on buying those authors books in the future. This was a great way to find new authors.

[Marie Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I loved it was awesome

Wow that's crazy and I don't know how many times I said omg I
Think that I'm going to read this book again

[Kimberlyann Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

Books that make you want t to read more. Different angles memorable characters. New twists on old legends. Enjoyable read.

[Renee Kamenszki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story so much and you will too. Kristia lives in Nehalem. A one-stoplight town in Oregon. Everyone in town knows everyone else's business. In fact, Kristia is quite aware they all treat her like a social pariah for things completely out of her control. Whisper about her handicap, that she is two trees short of a forest, etc. All because she suffers hallucinations, random flashes of the future against her will. What would they do if they knew her dreams many times took the same detour. At first, just Mormor (Grandmother) and her best friend Ardis knew of these spells. They assured her no one would ever notice but they were oh so wrong.

Since they graduated Ardis is currently attending acting at NYU. She has constantly tried to convenience Kristia to stop sitting around waiting for something to happen-go out and grab it. This time Kristia knew Ardis was right. She needed to go someplace completely different where she could have a new start, where no one knew her. Yes, she'd go to Wales to Cardiff University.

Four months later and after a very long bumpy flight, she was landing at London, Heathrow for a thirty-three-hour wait until her transportation to Wales. Here begins the start of a journey you are sure to enjoy. Kristia not only discovers the source of her visions but falls in love with a God. They begin their adventure to save us, weak humans, from a fate worse than death. I enjoyed this story so much and you will too.
Kristia lives in Nehalem. A one-stoplight town in Oregon. Everyone in town knows everyone else's business. In fact, Kristia is quite aware they all treat her like a social pariah for things completely out of her control. Whisper about her handicap, that she is two trees short of a forest, etc. All because she suffers hallucinations, random flashes of the future against her will. What would they do if they knew her dreams many times took the same detour. At first, just Mormor (Grandmother) and her best friend Ardis knew of these spells. They assured her no one would ever notice but they were oh so wrong.

Since they graduated Ardis is currently attending acting at NYU. She has constantly tried to convenience Kristia to stop sitting around waiting for something to happen-go out and grab it. This time Kristia knew Ardis was right. She needed to go someplace completely different where she could have a new start, where no one knew her. Yes, she'd go to Wales to Cardiff University.

Four months later and after a very long bumpy flight she was landing at London, Heathrow for a thirty three wait until the busA

[Tawnya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The name of this anthology is incomplete. Instead of UF it should have led with "Romance". I only read romance novels for a few years in my teens. Indeed the last romance book I purchased I was probably 20. I don't mind if books have an aspect of romance to them, but when the story lines sound like something from Harlequin I know it is not for me. I'm guessing this collection has been re-released multiple times with more books added. The version I got had 11 books it it. I wound up buying only one the books (in fact I bought the entire main series): "Wolves: I Bring the Fire Part I - A Loki Series" by C. Gockel.

[Marianne Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all of them, but didn't go on to read the rest of the series for all of them. I really liked the I bring the Fire series by C. Gockel, and went on to read many more of her books, even outside this series. I also read the full Elsker series and some others. Overall a good read, and if the single story doesn't call to you, just skip it and move on to all the others in this book. I discovered several new authors that I enjoy by reading this compilation. There were 14 when I got my free copy, but that seems to keep decreasing so get yours asap.

[Margo James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a good collection of stories for series starters. Much better than most I have read lately. Each story was well developed and fostered curiosity enough to continue the series. Would recommend for anyone who wants a sample of interesting tales that can lead to very compelling enjoyment of different series perhaps not considered before. Lost a star for the blatant use of sex in a couple of books and for two others that were not quite five star worthy. Feel free to disagree by reading this compilation for yourself. Definitely not a waste of time.

[Jennifer Holzapfel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent compilation of first in series stories from multiple authors. The only let down was all the cliffhangers for each story. It is nice to get a mix of authors that you may have never read before. Nearly all the stories were riveting, but there is always that one story that you have to plod your way through. I highly recommend this compilation because of the diversity of the stories and the writing style of the individual authors.

[David Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an EXCELLENT intro to a range of authors in fantasy.
The fact that it is (?often?) free makes it even better.

You won't like some of the stories. You'll love others. And which you love and hate will differ from those I do. But that's the great thing about an anthology like this - you get to see which authors and styles you DO like.

I doubt I'd give any of the individual stories 5*, but access to the wide range makes the whole more than the sum of the parts.

[Rajeshwari · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first short story as part of this collection.
I expected it to be a fantasy thriller involving Greek Gods. But it turned out to be mushy-teen unadulterated romance with no meaning for actually having a romance plot.
Unfortunately, this is not my cup of tea.

I did not read beyond the first one and definitely not intending to do so in the future.

[Melissa (missy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

1.THE ELSKER SAGA:Elsker The Prophecy of Ragnarok by S. T. Bende
2.CHOSEN Book 1 of the Djinn Wars Series by Christine Pope
3.THE GATEKEEPER’S SONS: Gatekeeper’s Saga, Book One by Eva Pohler
4.Prologue to NOLANDER
5.NOLANDER: Emanations, Book One by Becca Mills
6.Epilogue to NOLANDER
7.TWIN SOULS: Book One of the Twin Souls Saga by DelSheree Gladden
8.BLOOD DEBT: Touched Series, Book 1 by Nancy Straight
9.THE FORGOTTEN ONES: Book One of the Danaan Trilogy by Laura Howard
10.MARKED: Soul Guardians, Book 1 by Kim Richardson
11.Preface to RELENTLESS by Karen Lynch
12.RELENTLESS by Karen Lynch
13.Beyond the Veil (The Veil Series #1) by Pippa DaCosta
14.Epilogue to Beyond the Veil (The Veil Series #1) by Pippa DaCosta

I loved all of the stories in this set.
It is hard to choose a favorite.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a great introduction into the work and series for whole bunch of authors. For me, about half the stories were to my liking, with a couple I will be following up on and a couple I will never touch again. Mileage may vary, but thats the point behind this sort of collection. Overall, well worth my time.

[Danuta Siniarska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grate books

Love almost all of this nine novels I really strongly recommend, the are options to continue reading each of this novel by purchasing their series, I did twice, and it was amazing, but you don’t have to . I am so glad that I learn about this fabulous authors and their books, I couldn’t put this book down, there are really page turning, thank you for those books.